Reviews of Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park. (Performing Arts Theater) in Des Moines (Iowa).

Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park

127 Reviews

62 Comments

Performing arts theater

Amphitheater

Des Moines Water Works Park, 2251 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321, United States

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Description

Information of Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, Performing arts theater in Des Moines (Iowa)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

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Reviews of Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park

Evan Isabell

This place is great unfortunately the parking is a little bit difficult I don’t know if this is due to the amphitheater itself or the people in charge of the parking at the event but there was no signs posted that it was cash only so we waited in line for a long time before we got to the end just to find out that we had to pay in cash unfortunately we had no cash. I only see this as a cautionary remark but as a whole the park and amphitheater is amazing.

Mike Abrams

Wonderful place to experience a concert. Each concert has a different set up, and the venue is outdoors without a roof, but they bring in good acts, have food vendors and drinks available, and plenty of parking.

Marty Hogan

Have been there a few times during the day for various events. Was looking forward to the Mighty Bosstones amd Dropkick Murphys show this last Friday. It was awesome. Great sound amd the stage was easy to see. Great outdoor venue.

Dan Knight

Since I'm new to the area I was pleasantly surprised by the FREE Des Moines Symphony concert on Saturday night over Labor Day weekend. It was a beautiful evening with excellent music in an perfect outdoor venue. The easy access and organized parking exceeded my expectations. Kudos to the City of Des Moines for providing safe, fun, and great entertainment.

Trevor

Waterworks Park - Natural Landscape Park - Bathrooms - Single Swing - No Shade - Theatre - with stage

Catie Sonneville

Lots of fun to be had at the amphitheater and adjacent park. My daughter loved to climb on the natural landscape! We also enjoyed watching kites flying in the field behind the amphitheater. Water Works Park did not disappoint. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Real Advantage Partners Real Estate Team

What a great space to watch live music, rest after a walk or host an event!

Bryan York

Beautiful outdoor venue in the heart of the city. A real gem!!! Stage was easy to see and it sounded great.

Noah Clark

Such an awesome venue, bands not too shabby either. #thedeadsouth

Charlie Brown

We had a wonderful evening with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and Rashida Scott, performing the music of Whitney Houston.

Lethia Alarcon

Wonderful Experience loved the Whitney tribute concert OMG could that lady sing!!!! Can't wait to go again

Marc Wallace

This is a great place to relax, exercise, get together with friends or family, and is a great venue for music.

Kathy Polson

Great concert at water works park with the Des Moines Symphony honoring the music of John Williams. A beautiful night and great to be hearing live music after way too long! The Wingz food truck kept busy and there was a long line for food and a long wait after ordering.... But so glad they were there as we didn't bring a picnic. Leaf and Bean also showed up with ice cream and coffee drinks. Great night!

Luke Dawson

Awesome location. Great spot for an outdoor show. Wish they could stay open past 10.

Katy Cunningham

A quaint park. Another great place to meditate. And play like a kid

Linda Taylor

Really is bigger now that they combined grays and water works together

Lynn McBrian

We saw the Flaming Lips July 24th, 2019. The show was great! The venue was convenient, we stood in the first row ($7 per ticket). Weather was gorgeous. Only complaint, and its a big one, we had to wait an entire hour for one grilled cheese sandwich and we weren't the only ones angry! No time to eat in between work and concert and there was only one food stand! The sandwich was delicious but we missed using our VIP tickets for almost the entire warm up band. You need to fix this! Oh, and you need some Confluence or Exile choices of beer.

Stacey Irvine

Visited twice this week and enjoyed both concerts. Parking was $10 & not far to walk. There is a concrete area to stand in front of the stage and ample grass area for chairs and blankets. Plenty of bathrooms and food and drinks. Excited to go back again soon!

Kurt Gocken

Love the venue, best general admission experience ever

Jane Hartman

Perfect place to listen to the Des Moines Symphony’s special concerts. Bring your own lawn chairs and sit back and enjoy the music, no matter where you choose to sit.

Thomas Wong

Great place another gem for DM our city is getting better yeah !!!!

Michael Boyle

This is a newly developed part of Water Works park, just west of Gray’s Lake. The two are connected via trail by a beautiful new tunnel that passes under Fleur Drive. It even lights up at night! Would highly recommend a stroll, run, or bike trip through the tunnel to visit parks on both sides.

Nicholas

Edit: My second visit wasn't as bad, so I'm bumping to 3 stars. They managed the parking and entrance much better, and there were more food vendors. Still, this isn't an amphitheater, and all of the views are poor except for VIP. If you want to see a band here, pay for VIP or don't go. -- Poorly designed and managed concert venue. I agree with others that said this place was designed by someone who doesn't go to concerts. The only redeeming qualities are that the sound is good, though maybe not loud enough for those in general admission, and there are plenty of bathrooms, which is often an issue at these types of venues. On to the problems. Why am I paying $10 to park in a city park? This is Des Moines. This is a cash grab pure and simple. And what it does is slow the line of cars down on Fluer Drive, making a dangerous situation where cars are speeding by in the left lane but at a dead stop on the right lane. This is especially true on week nights. I waited over 30 minutes in line sitting on Fluer Drive, no exaggeration. Someone is going to die out there so the city can make $10 for nothing. Just raise ticket prices $3 and make parking free - save someone's life. For some inexplicable reason, after waiting in my car 45 minutes to park, we waited about 30 minutes in line to get our tickets scanned. Good thing I wasn't there to see the opener! We didn't even get close to seeing her. This is NOT an amphitheatre. It's just a stage in a field. There is no slope to mimic stadium style viewing, just flat ground. In other words, if you want to see the artist, pay VIP. Otherwise you won't. I sat in the assigned terrace seating, but since it is flat everyone has to remain seated the entire show for anyone to see. It's very weird to go to a rock show and just sit there the whole time. It just sucks the enjoyment right out of the experience. As others have said, don't even attempt to buy food here. Eat before you come. The 2 food trucks had a line hundreds of people long. These folks paid for their ticket, then $10 to park, then waited in yet another line during the show just to eat. No thanks. We already had purchased tickets to a 2nd show here before I attended my first, unfortunately. My recommendation is to not see a show here, but if you are dying to see the artist then buy VIP and get there early, otherwise don't go.

Eric Weber

Looks like and enjoyable venue for the Belin Quartet and Des Moines Symphony outdoor events. Nice sloped area in back for smaller events. Large grassy area on the front side to enjoy the Symphony. Looking forward to the season :-). Easy parking for events with under 250 attendance.

M Klaas

Recently went to see the Struts here and it was a pretty decent venue! Only thing I didn't like was the "variety" of beer the tents sold. Worst selection of drinks and beers I have ever seen at any event, ever. Other than that, it was a blast!

Mark Davis

Great place to see a concert! Typical prices for concert beers $$$ They do charge more for the seating area near the stage. Bring a bag chair or blanket. They usually have bicycle parking for free or very cheap.

Monty Mickle

Great entertainment but lots of tripping hazards

Susan Judkins Josten

This is a lovely space to gather for outdoor performances.

Dee Large

The Amphitheater is amazing. Great venue, hope more bands come here. Sound was great.

TenderGranny

Parking was terrible. Its confusing to find the place. VIP ticket holders get the only good spots. A sound booth was blocking my view. Everything else was fine.all together I had a fun time.

Randy Coffey

Really impressed with this venue, just been once but expect to go back for another show soon.

Jeremy Phillips

Could not refill water bottles. Not enough food vendors for a 6 PM show. Strange layout for show. Seemed to cause confusion. Good sound. Good bands.

Newelle Nielsen

Great venue for outdoor anything

Debra Johnson

This was by far the best festival ever. Please continue to hold it at water works park. So much better.

Irina Fedorova

It's a place to walk around... Clean, they built some things for you to look at. I imagine before COVID when there were events here it was tons of fun.